Tic tac toe game

ABSTRACT

A game wherein points are awarded by completing rows of matching sets of playing pieces. The game includes a playing surface having a predetermined number of playing areas arranged in rows and a plurality of groups of playing pieces. One playing piece from each plurality of groups is to be placed in each playing area. In one embodiment, translucent colored playing pieces in groups of magenta, cyan, and yellow when placed on top of each other during successive turns, produce additional colors; a player being required to complete a row of a particular color in order to score points. In this embodiment, the playing areas are transparent while the remainder of the playing surface is opaque. In an alternative embodiment, the interrelated groups of playing pieces are concentrically circular, the smallest piece can be a solid circular piece and the next pieces cylindrically-shaped rings in increasing sizes.

United States Patent 1191 Odom [ TIC TAC TOE GAME George P. Odom, PinePlains, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Jeremiah E. Berk, Esq.,

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

22 Filed: Oct. 21, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 191,394

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 273/130 B, 273/137 R [51] Int. Cl. A63b 3/00 [58] Field ofSearch 273/130 A, 130 AB,

273/130AC,130B,130C,130D,131R,131 A, 131 AD, 131 AC, 131 AB, 131 BB, 131B, 131 D, 134 AD, 135 B, 135 AC, 136 E, 153

[ July 24, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [57] ABSTRACT A gamewherein points are awarded by completing rows of matching sets ofplaying pieces. The game includes a playing surface having apredetermined number of playing areas arranged in rows and a pluralityof groups of playing pieces. One playing piece from each plurality ofgroups is to be placed in each playing area. In one embodiment,translucent colored playing pieces in groups of magenta, cyan, andyellow when placed on top of each other during successive turns, produceadditional colors; a player being required to complete a row of aparticular color in order to score points. In this embodiment, theplaying areas are transparent while the remainder of the playing surfaceis opaque. In an alternative embodiment, the interrelated groups ofplaying pieces are concentrically circular, the smallest piece can be asolid circular piece and the next pieces cylindrically-shaped rings inincreasing sizes.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJULZMSB FIG.4A

FIG.5

GEORGE DOME EJGA FIG.6

EJQQEJA TIC TAC TOE GAME BACKGROUND l. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to a game, and more particularly to an educationalgame for teaching colors and set theory wherein points are scored bycompleting rows of matching sets of playing pieces.

2. Description-of the Prior Art The most relevant known prior artrelates to the classic game of tic tac toe. For tic tac toe there isrequired a playing surface having nine playing areas arranged in threerows of three areas each. It is played by two players, each beingassigned a particular symbol, such as X or O (or a distinguishableplaying piece). Each of the players alternately place their assignedsymbol (or playing piece) in an empty playing area until one of theplayers completes three in a row and is declared the winner.

The tic tac toe game, although quite popular, has a number ofdetrimental aspects. One such disadvantage isits simplicity permittingthe game to be easily mastered and resulting in a large number of gamesin which neither player wins. Additional disadvantages include arelative lack of either aesthetic appeal or educational value, and thefact that only two people can play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of my invention toprovide a more challenging game,.0f the type wherein points are scoredby completing rows of playing areas with matching sets of playing piecesdrawn from a common pool, usually resulting in a winner.

It is another object of my invention to provide an educational gameteaching the subtractive color process and set theory.

Still further objects of my invention include providing a game havingaesthetic appeal, and playable by any reasonable number of people.

Briefly, in accordance with one aspect of my invention, there isprovided a planar surface, such as a playing board, having apredetermined number of playing areas arranged in rows. The shortest rowis at least three playing areas long. A plurality of groups of playingpieces are also provided. Typically, three groups of playing pieces areused, the number of playing pieces needed from each group being equal tothe number of playing areas. Each playing area is adapted to receive oneplaying piece from each of the groups of playing pieces. Each playerdraws, in turn, a playing piece from one of the groups placing thechosen piece on a playing area. Points are awarded to a playercompleting a row of identical playing pieces (or matching sets ofplaying pieces) by placing the last such piece in the row, in tic tactoe fashion; the number of points awarded being equal to the length ofthe completed row. A row of matching sets of playing pieces is a row.having more than one playing piece in each playing area, such that allthe playing pieces in each playing area are drawn from the same groupsof playing pieces.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the groups of playing piecesare interrelated. For'example, translucent colored playing pieces ingroups of magenta, cyan and yellow, place on top of each other duringsuccessive turns, produce additional colors; a player being required tocomplete a row of a particular color in order to score points. In thisembodiment, the

playing areas are transparent while the remainder of the playing surfaceis opaque, preferably black. As an example, placing the last yellowplaying piece in a row, thereby completing a yellow row, awards theplayer the number of points equal to the number of playing areas in therow. Subsequently, placing cyan playing pieces over all the yellowplaying pieces, provides a green row. A set of playing pieces consistingof one piece from each of the groups of cyan, yellow and magenta,provides an opaque (black) playing area.

In an alternative embodiment, the interrelated groups of playing piecesare concentrically circular. If three groups of playing pieces aredesired, the smallest piece can be a solid circular piece and the nexttwo pieces cylindrically shaped in increasing sizes. A set of playingpieces would then consist of either a combination of one playingpiecefrom any two groups, or one playing piece from each of the threegroups. As a further variation, playing pieces may be rectangles ofinter-fitting size. As in the preferred embodiment, points are scoredbycompleting rows of matching sets of playing pieces. I

The above mentioned objects, features and advantages of my invention,together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the apparatusillustrated in the drawings, the same being merely preferred exemplaryforms, and are described more particularly as follows.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the playing surface.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one playing area with a playing piece inplace.

FIG. 3 shows the playing pieces for use with the playing surface of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternate playing surface.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows the playing pieces for use with the playing surface of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another alternate playing surface.

FIG. 7 shows the playing pieces for use with the playing surface of FIG.6.

DESCRIPTION Now describing my invention with respect to the variousfigures, there is shown in FIG. 1, a playing surface 100. The playingsurface has opaque or black areas 20 and transparent areas 22 numbered1-19. The numbers 1-19 do not appear on the playing surface but havebeen inserted for simplifying the explanation of the rules of play. Theplaying surface can be constructed by any one of numerous techniquesproviding the illustrated configuration. For example, holescorresponding to the playing areas 1-19 can be cut from black paper andthe resultant structure adhesively joined to a piece of transparentplastic. The playing surface can also be produced photographically suchthat after developing the areas 20 are black while the remaining areasare transparent. Numerous alternatives will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art.

The playing areas are arranged in intersecting rows such as the rowconsisting of playing areas 1, 5, 10, 15 and 19, and the row consistingof playing areas 4,5,6, & 7. The only requirement is that the shortestrow be three playing areas long such as the row consisting of playingareas, 1,2 and 3. The playing surface could therefore be enlarged toinclude additional rows of greater length. With the playing surface ofFIG. 1, a source of light (not shown) is required. When the playingsurface 100 is used in a horizontal position, the source of light shouldcome from underneath thereby shining through the various playing piecesto be placed on the playing areas.

In order to avoid the expense of an artificial source of light, theplaying surface 100 is mounted vertically such as by taping to a window,for example. Natural daylight then passes through the transparentplaying areas 1-19. Vertical mounting requires means 24 for retainingthe playing pieces in position, as shown in FIG. 2. With continuedreference to FIG. 2, there is shown a particular playing piece (m)retained in playing area 22 by retaining means 24, the latter preferablybeing a transparent pocket. Transparent pockets or retaining tabs arereadily adhesively joined to the playing surface 100. Note that theplaying piece is substantially the same size as the playing area beingany convenient size such as several inches in diameter.

The playing pieces are translucent and colored as shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 3. Preferably, I use three groups of playing piecescolored magenta(m), cyan(c) and yellow(y). When playing the game in thevertically mounted configuration shown in FIG. 2, the playing pieces arepreferably constructed from thin plastic material. When using ahorizontally mounted configuration, the playing pieces can be of heaviertranslucent plastic material similar in size and shape to poker chips.

Each of the playing areas l-l9 is adapted to receive three playingpieces, one from each of the groups of magenta(m cyan(c) and yellow(y).This is one reason for keeping the playing pieces quite thin in thevertically mounted configuration. For the playing surface of FIG. 1, 57playing pieces are required, 19 from each of the three color groups. Inthe event that a larger or smaller playing surface is used, acorresponding number of playing pieces are provided.

Refer now to FIG. 4, for an alternate embodiment not requiring a speciallight source other than normal room illumination. The intersecting rowsof playing areas are arranged similar to the FIG. 1 embodiment and arelabeled 22. to show their correspondence. Playing surface 200 is anyconvenient playing board constructed from wood, cardboard, or othersuitable material usually used for gameboards. Generally, the playingboard 200 would be a heavier material than the vertically mountedconfiguration specifically illustrated in FIG. 2. A cross-section of oneof the playing areas of playing board 200 is illustrated in FIG. 4A.This cross-section has also been enlarged for purposes of illustrationand is shown with a complete set of playing pieces inserted therein. Theplaying pieces are illus trated in greater detail in FIG. and arelabeled with corresponding reference numerals. The smallest playingpiece 51 fits in the center of the playing area, the playing piece 52normally surrounds it, while playing piece 53 normally surrounds playingpiece 52. The playing areas 22' are adapted to receive one playing piecefrom each group of playing pieces in a substantially preciselypositioned relationship. As seen in greatest detail in FIG. 4(A), it ispossible to place a playing piece 51 and a playing piece 53 in playingarea 22' and have a suitable groove remaining for playing piece 52. Asin the previous embodiment, 19 playing pieces are required from each ofthe groups of playing pieces, 51, 52 and 53.

Refer now to FIGS. 6 and 7 for a still further alternate embodiment. Theplaying board 300 of FIG. 6 resembles the traditional tic tac toeconfiguration, but in combination with the playing pieces of FIG. 7, itserves to illustrate my invention in a most simple form. The nineplaying areas are sufficiently large to receive a full set of playingpieces, one from each of the groups 71, 72 and 73. In this case, nineplaying pieces are needed from each of the groups of playing pieces 71,72 and 73. With the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 6, a prospectivewinner of three points by the placement of a playing piece 71 in theupper right hand corner (playing area 303) is illustrated. This willbecome more apparent in the following more particular description of therules of play.

OPERATION The basic rule of the game is that points are scored bycompleting rows of matching playing pieces or sets of playing pieces.For purposes of describing the operation, the playing areas in FIG. 6have been numbered 301-309. The only requirement of the playing surfaceis that it have a predetermined number of playing areas arranged inintersecting rows, each playing area being adapted to receive aplurality of playing pieces. In the case of FIG. 6, nine playing areasare provided, each of them large enough to receive at least the threeplaying pieces shown. Twenty-seven playing pieces are required, ninefrom each of the groups of playing pieces, 71, 72 and 73. These groupsof playing pieces are placed in individual piles from which each playercan draw. Two or more players can play. A first player starts out byplacing a playing piece on one of the playing areas. The first player isfollowed by a second player who also takes a playing piece and places iton a playing area of his choice. The only restriction is that it isprohibited to place two playing pieces from the same group on the sameplaying area. In other words, two of the same pieces may not be placedon the same area. With the arrangement indicated in FIG. 6, the playerwith the next turn would take a playing piece from the group 71 andplace it in playing area 303. This would complete a row of matchedplaying pieces and the player would record the three points thus won. Insubsequent play, a circular piece from the group 73 might be placed inplaying area 305 permitting a player to place a square from the group 71playing pieces into playing area 308 completing a row of matching setsof playing pieces. Namely, a combination of playing pieces from morethan one group constitutes a set and the completing of a row of matchingsets of playing pieces rewards that player with three points, the numberof playing areas in the completed row in this example. This procedure iscontinued and repeated until each playing area contains a complete set,namely one playing piece from each of the three groups of playing pieces71, 72 and 73.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated at FIG. 1, the playing area isexpanded to I9, and the playing pieces not only vary in color but causeother colors to appear as the playing pieces are combined in variouscombinations making the game educational as well as highly pleasingaesthetically. The combination of a cyan and yellow playing pieceresults in green. The combination of magenta and yellow results in red.The combination of magenta and cyan results in blue. The conbination ofone playing piece from each of the three groups renders the playing areaopaque. When placedagainst a window, an opaque surface will appearblack. These colors are chosen from the subtractive color system. Notethat even though only three groups of playing pieces are provided,players can win not only with rows of magenta, cyan or yellow, but alsowith green, red, blue and black. A row of green, for example,constitutes a row of matching sets of playing pieces in the sense thatcyan and yellow form a set of two. If a player were to complete a rowconsisting of playing areas 1, 5, 10, and 19 with a matching set ofplaying pieces, such as the color red, he would be awarded five pointswhich he would record. 0n the other hand, completing the row consistingof playing areas 4, 5, 6 and 7 would award a player only four points,etc.

Note that in the FIG. 1 configuration, the rows of playing areas do notintersect at right angles but rather at acute and obtuse angles. Thispermits an expansion of the playing area and varying lengths of rows.Note also that the playing pieces are of substantially the same size andshape as the playing areas providing the aesthetically most pleasingarrangement. Also, by having the playing areas and playing piecescircular, alignment problems are avoided. By providing a retaining meansfor the playing pieces such as transparent pockets 24 the playing piecesare held in a precisely superimposed spaced relationship to the playingareas such that when a complete set of playing pieces has been placed,the playing area becomes completely opaque.

In conclusion, what I have described is a game wherein points are scoredby completing rows 'of matching playing pieces or matching sets ofplaying pieces. Numerous variations will become readily apparent tothose skilled in this art. For example, the rules could be modified topermit the taking away of playing pieces as well as the additionthereof. I myself have found that using particular colors, I can changethe color of a set of playing pieces merely by turning them over.

For example, a particular shade of pink, found in the Rohm and Haasplexiglas catalog number 2085, played in combination with the previouslydescribed colors, will change color when turned over, provided afluorescent light source is used.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that various other changes instructure and mode of operation may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

1 claim:

1. In a game of the type wherein points are scored by completing rows ofmatching sets of playing pieces, said game comprising:

A playing surface having a predetermined number of playing areasarranged in intersecting rows, the playing areas of said playing surfacebeing transparent, the remainder of the playing surface being opaque;

A plurality of interrelated groups of playing pieces adapted to beplaced on the playing areas of said playing surface, each of the groupsof playing pieces being translucent and of a different color,each'playing piece being shaped to substantially cover one playing area;and

Each one of said playing areas being adapted to serially receive oneplaying piece from each of said groups of playing pieces, more than oneplaying piece on any playing area forming a set.

2. A game as in claim 1 wherein said playing areas and playing piecesare circular. 3. A game as in claim 2 wherein the plurality of groups ofplaying pieces comprises:

A first one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces being coloredmagenta;

A second one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces being coloredcyan;

A third one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces being coloredyellow;

Said playing areas being adapted to receive one playing piece from eachone of said plurality of groups of playing pieces such that when oneplaying piece from each one of said plurality of groups of playingpieces is placed on one playing area, said playing area becomes opaque.

4. A game as in claim 3 further comprising:

Means for retaining said playing pieces in a precisely superimposedspaced relationship to said playing areas such that when one playingpiece from each one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces isplaced on one of said playing areas, the playing area becomes opaque.

5. A game as in claim 4 wherein the playing surface is verticallymounted and the retaining means comprises transparent pockets adaptedfor retaining one playing piece from each of the plurality of groups ofplaying pieces.

1. In a game of the type wherein points are scored by completing rows ofmatching sets of playing pieces, said game comprising: A playing surfacehaving a predetermined number of playing areas arranged in intersectingrows, the playing areas of said playing surface being transparent, theremainder of the playing surface being opaque; A plurality ofinterrelated groups of playing pieces adapted to be placed on theplaying areas of said playing surface, each of the groups of playingpieces being translucent and of a different color, each playing piecebeing shaped to substantially cover one playing area; and Each one ofsaid playing areas being adapted to serially receive one playing piecefrom each of said groups of playing pieces, more than one playing pieceon any playing area forming a set.
 2. A game as in claim 1 wherein saidplaying areas and playing pieces are circular.
 3. A game as in claim 2wherein the plurality of groups of playing pieces comprises: A first oneof said plurality of groups of playing pieces being colored magenta; Asecond one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces being coloredcyan; A third one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces beingcolored yellow; Said playing areas being adapted to receive one playingpiece from each one of said plurality of groups of playing pieces suchthat when one playing piece from each one of said plurality of groups ofplaying pieces is placed on one playing area, said playing area becomesopaque.
 4. A game as in claim 3 further comprising: Means for retainingsaid playing pieces in a precisely superimposed spaced relationship tosaid playing areas such that when one playing piece from each one ofsaid plurality of groups of playing pieces is placed on one of saidplaying areas, the playing area becomes opaque.
 5. A game as in claim 4wherein the playing surface is vertically mounted and the retainingmeans comprises transparent pockets adapted for retaining one playingpiece from each of the plurality of groups of playing pieces.